Members of the Kibera Slum soccer team in their new Football West kits.

Football West kits bring joy in Kenya

Feb 16, 2017

Football West News

When the Football West team was cleaning out the offices at Gibbney Reserve last month, they didn’t think much of the old state kits that had been packed into boxes and left in a storeroom.

But when Bateman local Nicole Leighton got in touch regarding an upcoming trip to Kenya an idea was born.

Nicole was heading to Kenya where football is the most popular sport amongst the 44 million population, and she knew there would be people who could make good use of the sportswear.

Through a volunteer placement with International Volunteer Headquarters from January 13 to February 3, Nicole was able to redistribute the equipment.

The Kibera Slum soccer team, whose players are drawn from the biggest slum in Africa with around two million people, were the recipients of the equipment.

“The coaches were overwhelmed by the uniforms and continuously commented on how official the kids looked in them,” she said.

Prior to Nicole’s shipment, the children had played in their daily clothing, while many had no socks.

“The boys were so proud to be in proper uniform and they would tell me about their dreams to be professional soccer players in Europe,” she said. “The ambition and thirst for success amongst a lot of the kids I met there was something I have never experienced before.

“The Football West kits definitely went to a very appreciative group of boys who will wear them for years to come.”